translation

noun trans·la·tion \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən , tranz- \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Examples: translation in a Sentence

Definition of translation

1 : an act, process, or instance of translating: such as

a : a rendering from one language into another; also : the product of such a rendering

b : a change to a different substance, form, or appearance : conversion

c (1) : a transformation of coordinates in which the new axes are parallel to the old ones

(2) : uniform motion of a body in a straight line

2 : the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA — compare transcription 3

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translational

play \tran(t)s-ˈlā-shnəl, tranz-, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See translation defined for English-language learners

See translation defined for kids

Examples of translation in a Sentence

She is working on a translation of the novel.
a new translation of the Iliad
There were English translations on the menu.
the translation of economic power into political strength

Recent Examples of translation from the Web

In fact, just last year the first English translation of the story by a female classicist was published.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Oldest Greek Fragment of Homer Discovered on Clay Tablet," 11 July 2018
This requires little localisation, bar a bit of website translation to attract native users.

— The Economist, "Chinese and US tech giants go at it in emerging markets," 5 July 2018
Westport is using a more recent (2006) translation by the prolific comic playwright David Ives.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "Little Theatre Of Manchester, Curtain Call Announce New Seasons," 26 June 2018
There are two main sets of translations of Sufi poetry.

— aysha khan, Houston Chronicle, "Omid Safi’s ‘Radical Love’ recenters Sufi poetry within Islam," 16 June 2018
Another week, another Westworld episode title in need of translation.

— refinery29.com, "Westworld Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: I Am You As You Are Me," 4 June 2018
Not accepting children's plays, musicals, adaptations of copyrighted material, or translation.

— mark rapp, cleveland.com, "Cleveland theater's auditions for April 27 and Beyond: Ohio Shakespere Festival's 2018-19 Season & More," 27 Apr. 2018
It should be noted, in terms of an NFL translation, Jackson is a more extreme version of what Watson was coming out of Clemson.

— andy benoit, SI.com, "Answering the Crucial Question for Each Top Quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft," 4 Apr. 2018
This blurring, a kind of translation between real and imaginary spheres, enacts one of the central questions of Lee's poetry.

— craig morgan teicher, latimes.com, "Poet Li-Young Lee articulates life’s interminable uncertainties," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'translation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of translation

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

translation Synonyms

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

TRANSLATION Defined for English Language Learners

translation

noun

Definition of translation for English Language Learners

: words that have been changed from one language into a different language : words that have been translated
: the act or process of translating something into a different language
: the act or process of changing something from one form to another

TRANSLATION Defined for Kids

translation

noun trans·la·tion \ trans-ˈlā-shən \

Definition of translation for Students

: the act, process, or result of changing from one form or language into another

Medical Dictionary

translation

noun trans·la·tion \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən, tranz- \

medical Definition of translation

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA — compare transcription

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